A Pastoral Letter to the Good People of the Santa Barbara Region

These last several days have been terrible for thousands of people in the Santa Barbara Pastoral Region, especially in Santa Paula, Ojai, and Ventura. Many have lost homes and possessions; many others have been displaced. Two days ago, I visited an evacuation center in Ventura and spoke with people who told me, with tears in their eyes, of their loss and anguish.

During times such as these, people of faith often wonder how God could permit such suffering. Though the Lord’s ultimate purposes remain shrouded in mystery, we can be sure that it is always God’s will that we care for one another, that we feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, provide shelter to the homeless, and calm anxious hearts.

Can I invite everyone in the Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties to reach out to those who have been affected so terribly by the fires in our region? And can I encourage you, above all, to pray for them? Finally, let us all ask our heavenly patroness, Saint Barbara, to intercede with the Lord to send rain.

For those who wish to provide immediate financial support:

Immediate financial support will be provided through the Cardinal McIntyre Fund for Charity. The goal of the Cardinal McIntyre Fund for Charity is service to the "neediest of the needy” and those for whom no other resources exist and donations are tax deductible.

These gifts can be made in three ways:

A simple envelope with your donation can be placed in the normal Sunday collection.

Also, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is providing support to the communities affected by the fires through Catholic Charities of Los Angeles and our local parishes and schools. A special fund has been established to help those impacted by the fires. Donations can be made at www.archla.org/fires.